Category Archives: Automotive Locksmith

Post navigation

Seattle’s had its fair share of car prowls pop up in recent years and it always seems to be getting worse. In October 2014, the Queen Anne neighborhood experienced a record-high 87 car prowls – and those are just the ones that get reported.

It’s an obnoxious crime that can add up for car owners, even if there’s nothing valuable within the car itself. And because it’s such a difficult crime to enforce, there have been numerous complaints about police response. So what can people do to prevent car prowls in their neighborhoods?

According the Seattle Police Department, residents can do the following to offset the chance they’ll become a victim of a car prowl:

– Park in well-lit, visible areas. If your parking space is not both well-lit and within eye-shot of your home, consider a security monitoring system, installing new lights, and trimming any trees or shrubs that might obstruct your view.

Hawk Locksmiths is the best choice for your Seattle commercial locksmith needs. They serve all Seattle areas, north, west, central, east, and south. They can help you understand which Trilogy locks (high-security and electronic locks) are best suited for your residential, commercial, and emergency locksmith needs.

We recommend Trilogy lock systems. It’s the most trusted lock name in retail, hospitals, schools and airports around the world.

When you consider your security needs, it helps to understand the differences between several Trilogy locks.

With some Trilogy systems, you can view and set user audit trails, user access schedules and quickly alter electronic keys within the system. Adding or revoking user access is streamlined through the system’s management.

All Trilogys feature free Windows-based software for key, ID card, and PIN programming and management. You can also program manually from the keypad itself.

At Hawk Locksmith, we offer not only emergency locksmith services, but also residential, commercial, and industrial locksmith services in the Seattle surrounding area. With our years of experience and highly trained security specialists, you can sleep easy knowing we’ve got your back 24/7. We’re bonded, licensed, and insured.

Since 2007, we’ve established a trust with the citizens of the Puget Sound region and have a Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of A+. Trust us to solve all your lock security and locksmith needs. Contact us for a free quote or a free residential, commercial, or industrial security consultation.

While we pride ourselves on offering only the best, most reliable lock and key services, unfortunately there are plenty of scammers out there who would happily part you from your hard earned cash and leave you vulnerable, too. Whether you need an emergency callout to get you back into your home or car, or if you are just looking to replace a lock in a door or window of your home, these tips will help you avoid becoming the victim of dishonest locksmith.

Full disclosure

If your locksmith can’t or won’t provide a realistic quote, the full legal name of their business, and an actual location where they can be found, there’s a good chance they are going to be dishonest. Unfortunately, it’s very easy for criminals to set up fake ‘local’ telephone numbers and addresses online, with promises of low callout fees and quick service, but what you get is just the opposite.

These con artists will often try to bully you into paying hundreds of dollars more than their websites promise, often for shoddy work or cheap locks. If you can’t confirm their name, location and proof that they are licensed, bonded and insured, don’t accept their services.

Get ID

At the very least, your locksmith should be able to show a valid driver’s license as an ID, but most will have company ID’s issued that can be verified by calling their manager. Also, be wary of locksmiths who arrive in unmarked vehicles. Most legitimate businesses will have a company logo on their vehicle or send locksmiths in uniform.

Estimates

Before letting any work take place, get an estimate. If the estimate given over the phone is different from the one you get on-site, don’t let the locksmith work on your lock.

Bullying tactics

Several national news stories have highlighted the problems with locksmith scammers who promise one thing, but provide something else entirely. Instead of a low cost lock refit or emergency service, they try to bully you into paying hundreds of dollars more than you bargained for. Here are just a few videos about the problem.

Unfortunately, there are hundreds of bogus locksmith services advertising online. Don’t leave yourself or your loved ones vulnerable to these pop-a-lock scammers. We hope these tips help you stay safe when you need to call a locksmith!

Have you ever been in a crazy rush to get somewhere? You ran and packed everything in your car and then closed the door, forgetting that your keys were inside? If you have then you should know how much of a pain it is to get those keys out.

When left locked outside in Seattle Metro, East Side Metro, Tacoma Metro, or Everett Metro you know the winters can be harsh. There’s no time to twiddle your thumbs and try to find a coat hanger, call a local locksmith immediately. The sooner you decide to call an emergency locksmith, the sooner you will be back inside your warm vehicle. Unlike a traditional residential locksmith or commercial locksmith, an emergency locksmith will be there to help you in a snap. Your local Seattle locksmith Hawk has 24/7 emergency locksmiths standing by!

Have you ever been in such a hurry that you locked your keys inside your home? Don’t worry this happens all the time. An emergency 24/7 locksmith can help get you inside your home in no time at all.

Wondering what happens to your locks? Don’t worry, in most cases your emergency locksmith will be able to pick your lock with no damage at all.

Save the Hawk in your phone so you can have easy and fast access to a professional anytime.

Everyone knows locksmiths open locks and install them, but what types of other services do they offer?

Residential Locksmith

These locksmiths work on and around your home. They fix up old locks and replace them when needed. Home owners generally use their services to secure their property and make sure no bad guys get in. These guys can cut keys for you and help you with home safes. Make sure to ask a residential locksmith for security advice to make your home stronger.

Commercial

A commercial locksmith helps around businesses big and small. These guys can help install security systems in buildings with many different access points. If you need card access systems, these are your guys. Biometric Locks (Fingerprint) can be installed for an even greater level of security. Ask your local locksmith what they can do for you.

Auto

The automotive locksmith can help you in a few different ways. They are specialists in cars and car keys which can be very tricky. Due to their being so many different makes and models, it can be hard for an auto locksmith to do his or her job. Not all locksmiths can work on tricky car locks, so be sure to call ahead and ask!

Emergency

Emergency locksmiths are often called upon by people in need. Have you ever locked your keys in the car or needed to get into somewhere without a key? That’s what they do. Make sure to have identification, they won’t open the door to anyone’s car or home besides yours! Hopefully you won’t be needing the services of a 24 hour emergency locksmith, but if you do make sure to save the number in your phone.

I have been a mobile locksmith for the better part of 10 years. I have worked in and alongside all facets of the locksmith industry. Locksmithing is a critical trade that is often underrepresented in the trades community, and the people at large. But what is a locksmith, and why is it important to know? As one locksmith I spoke with frankly stated, “a locksmith works with locks.” The essentialism is quite true, yet fails to engage with the dynamic variety within the industry. Locksmithing comprises specific knowledge and skills designed for maintaining access control. Access control ensures that those who are allowed entrance to a specific area or building are permitted, while those who are not allowed entrance to a building are denied. Access control is everywhere – be it the locks on your house or store, your vehicle, parkade or gated community. Many locksmiths I have sat down with were either owner and operator of their own business, or they owned a locksmith shop from which they dispatched mobile technicians. Locksmith technicians operate in many forms and often take on a specialized roles in the industry.

You need to call an auto locksmith when you’ve locked your keys in the car, of course. Yet, there are other times when it may be a good idea to turn to these professionals. No matter how many times you’ve lost them, broken them or even locked them in the car itself, there’s no doubt you’ll need to call a professional to help you to get your car running. No matter why it happens, it just does. There’s help available when you are in need of help getting into your vehicle, no matter if it is the middle of the night or in the middle of rush hour traffic.

It’s Broken

One of the lesser common times to call on an auto locksmith is when the lock isn’t working. This can happen for many reasons. In older vehicles, something can become lodged in the actual device, making it difficult to open. In other cases, a key can break off within the locking mechanism, keeping it from working. Don’t try to pry these out because that can damage the system even more so than it already is. It’s best to call a professional for service.

Your Electronic Locks

There’s nothing better than coming out of the store with a cart full of groceries and being able to easily slide open the doors, pop the trunk and turn on the engine right from the parking lot without even getting in the car. The problem is, electronic locks can jam too. When this happens, you are out of lock and unable to get in. In these situations, call a professional out to get your vehicle back up and running. You may need a new system or just an override to get things back on track.

Need More Keys

Maybe it’s a good idea to stop in to see locksmiths every now and then to get a key made. It’s common for individuals to lose their keys. This is especially true when you are dealing with older cars that had thinner, smaller keys. If you need new keys made or you need to replace the entire locking system because you’ve lost them all, that’s something you need a professional for. They can handle the job for you, often onsite, so you can get back on the road.

An auto locksmith isn’t just any provider. These professionals have specialized tools and skills to help individuals to get the doors open and the car running. If you need help with your locking systems on your vehicle, including your security systems, electronic locks and chip keys, these are the professionals to turn to for that help.

Car theft is no longer unusual in the United States and the chances of recovering a stolen car are very slim. This is why it is important that you protect your car, even if it is old, because it is a hard earned investment that is not easy to come by. Unfortunately, no one can tell if they can become a victim of auto theft, so taking the necessary precautions for your car from being stolen is the best thing to do. Since newer models will have theft deterrent devices, the most likely models to be stolen are those that are a little older. Thus, applying theft prevention methods on your car is to your own benefit.
Check Your Investment

If you are planning on purchasing a car that is not brand new, you must make it a point to check if the car is not stolen in the first place. There are many car dealers that do buy and sell business, which often leads to them purchasing stolen cars at a lower value, and then selling them for a higher price. If you suspect the car to be stolen, do not do business with the dealer. You may only get into trouble with the law in the end.
Multiple Protections

It is always safer to have multiple types of protection applied on a car, than just one. The more protection you use, the longer it will take for thieves to steal your car that eventually leads to them giving up. Just like you would call a residential locksmith for your home, call a local auto locksmith to help apply protections to your vehicle.
Use Your Common Sense

In auto theft cases, some of the cars that were stolen had been left unlocked by their owners, while a percentage of those stolen cars, had the keys in the ignition. This is simply reckless on the part of the car owner. Here are a few things you must remember:
Always lock your car and roll up the window before leaving the car. It is also important that you do not leave the keys in the ignition.
In case of emergencies, it is wise to have spare keys stored in your wallet or elsewhere, but not in your car as well. Safe hiding places for keys inside cars are well known by thieves.
Never leave your car unattended, even in front of your own house.
If your car has security devices, make use of them every time you step away from your car.Call a auto locksmith to secure your car locks
Always chose a parking lot that is visible and attended. Do not opt for poorly-lit to dark areas. This will reduce the chances of having your car stolen while you dine, shop, work or worship.
Never leave your valuables inside the car exposed. Thieves can easily see these through the window and be tempted to steal your car.
Invest In Warning Devices

When you have warning devices on your car, thieves are aware that you are prepared. Those annoying warning sounds you hear some cars let off when someone gets too close, are effective methods of protection. There is an array of warning devices you can purchase in the market today, you just need to find the right one that suits your needs and your car.

Tracking Devices In Case Of Successful Theft

Though quite expensive, tracking devices offer car owners the opportunity to locate their car if it is successfully stolen. It can send out signals for law enforcements to locate and retrieve. Just like warning devices, there are many tracking devices in the market. Always select the one that suits your needs and car.

Valerie Howards is a freelance writer specializing in criminal law. She regularly contributes articles to legal and BailBondsDirect.com websites

Ever been in a situation where in your child was accidentally locked inside her room or the house and you could not find your spare keys? Or how about a car accident in which rescuers had a hard time letting the driver and the passengers out because the car door’s lock was jammed and had to be unlocked quickly. These two scenarios are just a few of the many situations where an emergency locksmith can do a lot to help save lives.
There are a lot of 24 hour locksmith services available these days. And the main reason why they exist is to provide locksmithing services during emergencies. With the increase in the number of accidents and other unexpected events that happen every day due to various reasons, emergency locksmithing is definitely very important.
For all of your Seattle area locksmith needs, call in the Hawk, Hawk Locksmith. Make sure you have our phone number in your phone, it’s better to be safe than sorry. We are a top notch family owned and operated Seattle locksmith company that offers 24 hour emergency locksmith services . Give us a call.

Why would you not be a certified locksmith? If you know your stuff just go get your certification! There’s no need to wait around, certified locksmiths are much more trustworthy than non certified locksmiths.

People Want To Hire The Best
If you’re not the best around, why would I hire you? It’s in the best interest of individuals and businesses alike to hire the best locksmith around. If becoming certified shows that you are infact a trained professional locksmith, then go get your certification! What’s stopping you? Stay competitive in the locksmith industry on today.

What Types Of Certifications Are There?
Depending on your professional locksmithing skills you will want to obtain certain certifications.

The types of certifications are:

Automotive Locksmith Certification
To become a certified automotive locksmith (CAL) you must pass an exam that will test your knowledge of automotive locksmithing and all of the techniques involved. People don’t want just anyone gaining access to their vehicles.

General Locksmith Certification
To become a Registered Locksmith (RL) you must participate and pass classes on the subject of professional locksmithing. Pass the general locksmith course and you will be able to call yourself a registered locksmith.

Certified Registered Locksmith
A certified registered locksmith (CRL) is the next step in certification. A CRL has passed the ten mandatory categories, as well as at least two specialized electives of his or her choice. A CRL has a good understanding of general locksmithing.

Certified Professional Locksmith
To obtain a certified professional locksmith certification (CPL) one must have a CRL. A CPL has completed an additional twelve elective categories. Certified professional locksmiths have a advanced knowledge of general locksmithing and other specialized areas.

Certified Master Locksmith
A certified master locksmith (CML) is the highest level of locksmith certification. A CML has the most advanced knowledge of locksmithing and electronic locking systems. The certified master locksmith has undergone rigorous tests, written examinations, and thirty six categories. The CML has proven their skill sets.

Certified Professional Safe Technician
A certified professional safe tech (CPS) has proven their skills in 17 different related categories. Some of these categories are The Theory of Manipulation, Safe Lock Installation, Basic Safe and Lock Construction, Safe Installation, GSA Equipment, Safe and Vault Door, Adjustments/Alignment, and many more.

Certified Master Safe Technician
A certified master safe tech (CMST) is the highest level of safe technicians. A CMST has proven advanced proficiency in safe and vault related categories. These highly trained locksmith professionals can be trusted to open just about any safe.

People want to hire the best locksmiths possible. Becoming a certified professional locksmith guarantees that people will respect your ability to do your job thoroughly. Certification is very important in the locksmith industry, why not be the best?